HIGHLIGHTS

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has made repeated requests in the last three months to Interpol for issuing a red-corner notice (RCN) against multi-crore PNB fraud accused Mehul Choksi. But Interpol has not yet issued an RCN against Mehul Choksi.

Interpol has issued RCN against other accused including Nirav Modi, Neeshal Modi, Mihir Bhansali and Subhash Parab in the same case. This has left India furious and anguished.

The October meeting of Interpol is likely to be an occasion for a major confrontation over Mehul Choksi case. Meanwhile, India has got a shot in the arm.

Top government sources have told India Today that the Commission for the Control of Files (CCF) will raise India's protests against non-issuance of RCN against Mehul Choksi during Interpol meeting in October. The CCF is an independent and impartial body which is officially responsible for ensuring that the processing of personal data by Interpol.

A top government source said, "We have clarified all the queries of Interpol with regard to Mehul Choksi. Still, the red corner notice has not been issued against him."

"In case, he flees from Antigua, he won't be detained and we won't be able to know that where is he hiding. An RCN against Mehul Choksi is important and we are hoping that when the matter will be brought by the CCF before Interpol, the international agency will understand importance of this case," the source told India Today.

Non-issuance of a red corner notice against Mehul Choksi by Interpol looks surprising as the agency has relied on the same set of evidence to issue RCNs against other accused in the Rs 13,000-crore PNB fraud case. Nirav Modi, Neeshal Modi, Mihir Bhansali and Subhash Parab have RCNs issued against them.

In the last week of August, the officials from the CBI and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) approached the Antiguan authorities seeking the arrest and extradition of Mehul Choksi. But the Antiguan authorities, India Today has learnt, raised the issue of non-issuance of the red corner notice against Mehul Choksi.

However, MEA officials told the Antiguan authorities that a red corner notice is not mandatory for the arrest of Mehul Choksi, sources said. "The RCN is required to locate an accused but in case of Mehul Choksi, Antigua has confirmed us that he is in their country. So an RCN is not mandatory to extradite Choksi," said an officer.

A request of extradition of Mehul Choksi was handed over to Antigua on July 3. Indian High Commisioner V Mahalingam met the Prime Minister of Antigua and handed him a new extradition with few changes on August 30. But nothing has happened since then.

Mehul Choksi left India for Dubai, just a few days before the CBI registered a case against him and his nephew, Nirav Modi, for defrauding Punjab National Bank (PNB) to the tune of more than Rs 13,000 crore. Mehul Choksi was given citizenship of Antigua last year.

Mehul Choksi had applied for police clearance certificate at Regional Passport Office on February 23, 2017. Within 15 days, on March 10, the Malabar Hill Police station submitted a report giving the green signal.

It is believed that based on the same report, Choksi got Antigua's citizenship under Citizenship by Investment Unit plan. With multiple cases pending against Mehul Choksi in 2017, it came as a surprise that the Mumbai police cleared his name for consideration in Antigua.